Hydraulic drill press



March 10, 1959 H. J. GURNEY HYDRAULIC DRILL PRESS Filed Sept. 28, 1956 2- Sheets-Qigeet 1 E INVENTORI HARRY J. GURNEY March 10, 1959 H. J. GURNEY 2,876,664

HYDRAULIC DRYILL PRESS Filed Sept. 28, 1956 I 2 SheetsShe e 2 INVENTOR HARRY J. GURNEY v BY %4 ATTORNEY United States Patent HYDRAULIC DRILL PRESS Harry J. Gurney, Springville, N. Y.

Application September 28, 1956, Serial No. 612,758

14 Claims. (Cl. 7733.5)

My present invention relates to the machine tool art, and more particularly to a hydraulically operated drill press.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a drill press where hydraulic pressure is used to provide drilling pressure in place of mechanical leverage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic drill press construction requiring no external pump, motor, or oil tank.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic drill press which forms a self-contained unit in which the hydraulic operating parts are mounted in the press.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulically operated drill press which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a drill press embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the end cap.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the gear pump.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the closure block.

In my copending application Serial No. 612,757, filed September 28, 1956 entitled Hydraulic Pump and Cylinder Unit, now abandoned I have described a self-contained pump and cylinder unit in which the pump and oil reservoir were incorporated into the hydraulic cylinder. The present invention utilizes the same principles in applying the invention to a drill press. In the conventional drill press, mechanical leverage is used to raise and lower the spindle. Since this is a manual operation, it varies as to speed and pressure with the individual operator. The present invention substitutes a hydraulic operation, valve controlled, which can provide uniform speed and high pressure regardless of the operator. The construction of the present invention readily permits semiautomatic or completely automatic operations.

Referring more in detail to the drawing embodying my invention, the drill press shown therein comprises a heavy base in which the hollow supporting column 11 is mounted. The bottom end of the column 11 is sealed by a plate 12 which is welded in place permanently. The work table 13 is adjustably mounted on the column 11 in the conventional manner, the handle 14 providing the usual lock and adjustment.

Surrounding the upper end of the column 11 is the head 15. The drill spindle 16 is mounted at one end of the head and driven through a pulley 17, belt 18, and pulley 19 by a motor 20 mounted at the opposite side of the head 15. This is the conventional drill press arrangement. To prevent radial movement of the drill about 2,876,664 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 the column 11 but permit free vertical motion, I provide a bracket 21 clamped to the column 11 below the head 15. One or more rods 22 are mounted in the bracket 21 and extend upwardly into vertical openings in the head 15 to permit vertical sliding movement of the head 15 but prevent radial movement.

The lower portion of the column 11 serves as a reservoir 23. At a point in the column 11 even with the bracket 21 I provide a combination oil filler line and vent 24 to fill the reservoir 23 and to prevent an air lock.

The driving action is provided by the assembly at the top portion of the column 11 and head 15 and constitutes a reverse hydraulic action in which the piston and piston head is fixed and the cylinder is movable. The head 15 is provided with a vertical bore 25 in which the top of the column 11 extends. A fixed block 26 is positioned in the column 11 and supports a fixed piston rod 27 extending upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the column 11. The piston head 28 comprises the conventional flexible members and washers and fits snugly into a cylinder 29 which is slidable within the column 11. The bottom of the cylinder 29 is closed by a block 30 having a packed and sealed bearing 31 which rides on the fixed piston 27. The upper end of the cylinder 29 extends into the bore 25 in the head 15 and is provided first with a closure block 32 mounted on the top of the cylinder, a gear pump 33 mounted on the closure block 32, and an end cap 34 mounted on the gear pump. The pilot valve 35 is mounted on the head 15 adjacent the spindle and is provided with an operating valve handle 36. The gear pump 33 is driven through a belt 37 from the motor 20. The gear pump draws oil from the reservoir 23 through the tube 38 extending to a point adjacent to the bottom of the column 11.

The conventional four way hydraulic valve is shown, and as noted in my copending application, all connections are made in the end cap 34 with suitable passageways extending through the gear pump 33 and block 32 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Referring to these figures, the end assembly is held together by bolts (not shown) extending through the openings 34a. The block 32 is provided with journal openings 32a for the gear pump shafts. The end cap 34 is provided with an opening 33a through which the drive shaft of the gear pump extends. Pressure is controlled from the valve 35 through the ports 34b, 0, d, and e, and 33b, to the gear pump, cylinder and reservoir.

The operation of the drill press is simple. When the .motor 20 is started it will drive the spindle 16 through the belt and pulley arrangement. At the same time, the belt 37 will drive the gear pump 33. Oil will be drawn by the gear pump from the reservoir 23 through the tube 38 and will be delivered to the pilot valve 35. With the handle 36 in neutral position, the oil is returned through the return line to the reservoir 23. When the handle 36 is depressed to the down position, oil is delivered from the pump 33 through the valve 35 to the bottom of the internal cylinder 29. Pressure of the oil against the fixed piston head 28 will force the cylinder downwardly along the fixed piston 27 bringing the head 15 downwardly. When the valve handle 36 is raised to the up position the oil is delivered to the top of the cylinder 29 and will drive the head upwardly on the fixed piston. Motion may be stopped at any point in the up or down travel by returning the valve handle 36 to neutral.

Thus the vertical motion of the head 15 along the column 11 is accomplished by the piston rod 27 being secured to the fixed block 26 to cause pressure in the cylinder to move the head up or down to the fixed block. The rate of movement and the pressure applied are easily controlled by the valve handle 36 and the skill of the operator. I have thus provided a drill. press in which the supporting column houses a complete hydraulic drive system. The manually operated pilot valve 35 may easily be replaced by any of a large variety of commercial hydraulic or electro-hydraulic control valves. Thus the press can be madesemi-automatic or completely automaticin its operation, and lends itself to automation. For a more eflicient and refined control of the drilling operation a conventional pressure relief valve and an adjustable flow control valve may be included in the circuit.

The construction is simple and economical to manufacture and assemble. Many other advantages will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

.1. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head.

2. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means being driven by said motor.

3. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means including a gear pump.

4. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upperend of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means including a gear pump driven by said motor.

'5. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on s:id base, a work holding table :adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion .ofsaidhcolumn constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of -said-column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore'and .slidable within said column, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on. said rod engaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindlemountedin said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving 'said spindle, 'and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head.

6. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of .said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on said rod engaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure .from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head,.said means being driven by said motor.

7. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mountedon said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on said rod engaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means including a gear pump.

8. Adrill press comprising a base,,a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjust-ably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable withinsaid column, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on said rod engaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor'mounted on said head for driving said spindle, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means including a gear pump driven by saidmotor.

9. A drill press comprising abase, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylindermounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a block sealing the bottom of said cylinder, a block sealing the top of said cylinder, a gear pump mounted on said top block, an end cap mounted on said gear pump, a fluid control valve mounted on said headand connected to said end cap, said cap, pump and top blockhaving fluid passageways connecting said pump, cylinder and fluid reservoir, a vertical spindle mounted .in said head over said table, and a motor mounted von said headfor v drivimg saidspindle and said gear pumps for selectively supplying fluidunder pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head.

10. A drillpress comprising a base, a hollowsupportingcolumn verticallymounted.on'said base, a work holdingtable adjustably'm-ounted on-said column, the bottom endofsaid colummheing, sealed whereby-the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, 8. head having a central bore slidablymounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a block sealing the bottom of said cylinder, a block sealing the top of said cylinder, a gear pump mounted on said top block, an end cap mounted on said gear pump, a fluid control valve mounted on said head and connected to said end cap, said cap, pump and top block having fluid passageways connecting said pump, cylinder and fluid reservoir, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on said rod engaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, and a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle and said gear pump for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head.

11. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, and means for preventing radial movement of said head about said column.

12. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, said means including a gear pump driven by said motor, and means for preventing radial movement of said head about said column.

13. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end of said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a piston rod immovably mounted in said column and extending into said cylinder, a piston head on said rod enaging the walls of said cylinder, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle, means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, and means for preventing radial movement of said head about said column.

14. A drill press comprising a base, a hollow supporting column vertically mounted on said base, a work holding table adjustably mounted on said column, the bottom end of said column being sealed whereby the lower portion of said column constitutes a fluid reservoir, a head having a central bore slidably mounted over the upper end or said column, a cylinder mounted in said head bore and slidable within said column, a block sealing 4 the bottom of said cylinder, a block sealing the top of said cylinder, a gear pump mounted on said top block, an end cap mounted on said gear pump, a fluid control valve mounted on said head and connected to said end cap, said cap, pump and top block having fluid passageways connecting said pump, cylinder and fluid reservoir, a vertical spindle mounted in said head over said table, a motor mounted on said head for driving said spindle and said gear pump for selectively supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said cylinder to raise or lower said head, and means for preventing radial movement of said head about said column.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,704 Mitchell Mar. 16, 1937 2,260,635 Musselman Oct. 28, 1941 2,430,019 Jenkins Nov. 4, 1947 2,559,125 Lee July 3, 1951 2,652,732 Frye Sept. 22, 1953 2,751,822 Schiltz June 26, 1956 

